PHYSICS 536
Experiment 1: DC Circuits
A. Introduction
The measurements in this experiment are simple, but the concepts illustrated are
fundamental. Proper understanding of these concepts is essential for later work. A
summary of the concepts and equations that are needed for this particular experiment is
presented herein. Refer to Sections 1,2,3, and 7 in the General Instructions for
Laboratory, hereafter referred to as GIL, for additional background information .
1. Voltage source
Figure 1
ro
A
V(I)
IL
V
A
RL
RL
VO
B
B
A perfect voltage source provides constant voltage regardless of how much current is
drawn; this is not the case for real sources. The source voltage, VL, decreases as the
source current, IL, increases. Using Kirchoff’s loop rule, the voltage across the load can
be expressed as
VL  V0  I L r0 .
(1.1)
Vo is the voltage of the source when there is no external lead, i.e. IL = 0, and ro is the
equivalent resistance of the voltage source. Recalling that VL  I L RL , eqn. (1.1) can be
rewritten as
RL
VL  V0
(1.2)
r0  RL
2. Current Source
Figure 2
I
VL
Load
IO
I-Source
r0
VL
Load
A perfect current source provides constant current, regardless of the voltage, VL,
across it. However, the current, IL, from a real source is slightly dependant on the voltage,
VL, across the source. Using Kirchoff’s branch rule the current through the load can be
written as
(1.3)
I L  I 0  VL / r0
where Io is the source current when VL is zero.
3. Combining Resistors
The equivalent resistance of a series assemblage of resistors is given by
R e q  R1  R2  ...
(1.4)
The equivalent resistance of a two resistors in parallel is given by
Re q 
R1 R2
 ( R1 , R2 ) .
R1  R2
(1.5)
4. Voltage Dividers
Figure 3
VO
R1
v1
RL
v2
IO
R3
v3
The voltage, VL, across several series resistors is distributed proportionally
according to the size of each resistor. Referring to Fig. 3, Kirchoff’s loop rule states that
V0  V1  V2  V3 .
(1.6)
The current through the loop is given by
Vo
Io 
(1.7)
R1  R2  R3
The voltage across resistor j, Vj, is
V j  V0
Rj
.
(1.8)
R1
.
R1  R2  R3
(1.9)
R1  R2  R3
The voltage across the resister R1 is
V1  Vo
5. Current Dividers
IO
Figure 5
I1
VO
I2
I3
R2
R1
R3
The current emanating from the voltage source is given by
Vo
.
I0 
 R1 , R2 , R3 
(1.10)
The current flowing through resister Rj
I  R , R ,...
V
Ij  o  o 1 2
.
(1.11)
Rj
Rj
If, for instance there are only two resistors, the currents are given by
R2
R1
I1  I 0
and I 2  I 0
(1.12)
R1  R2
R1  R2
The current flowing through two parallel resistors is inversely proportional to the
resistance. Notice that I1 is proportional to R2, not R1, and vice versa.
6. Thevenin’s Theorem
Any linear circuit can be represented by an equivalent voltage source, VTh, and
resistance, rTh, in series. VTh is the voltage with no external load. RTh is the combination
of resistors obtained with inactive sources: short circuit for voltage source and open
circuit for current source.
7. Norton’s Theorem
Any linear circuit can be represented by an equivalent current source, IN, and a
resistance, rN, in parallel. IN is the current that flows through a short circuit, which
replaces the load. rN is the same for Thevenin’s and Norton’s theorem.
The specific values needed for the experiment are given on a separate sheet
at the back of the lab instructions.
B. Effective Resistance of a Voltage Source
A D-cell will be used to demonstrate the general principle that the voltage from a
source decreases when it delivers current to a load. The two posts on the circuit box
provide a convenient place to add resistors for the measurement. The white plug-in
sockets are not used in this section. Connect the D-cell and the digital meter to the red
and black posts on the circuit box.
Figure 6
D
CELL
METER VS
RL
Load resistors, RL, will be inserted in the top of the posts to change the current, Is,
supplied by the battery. The load should be connected into terminals only as long as
necessary to measure Vs. If too much charge is drawn from the battery, the no load
voltage will change.
1 – Assuming a battery voltage of 1.5 V, i.e. V0 = 1.5 V, and an internal resistance, r0,
of 0.5 , calculate Vs for Is = 0, 0.1, and 1 A. Include the results of these
calculations in your lab report. Measure V0 of a D-cell battery. Set up the circuit
as shown is Fig. 6. Measure Vs for RL = 10Ω, 4.7Ω, 2.2Ω, and 1Ω. Recheck Vo at
the end. If the value has changed calculate the mean. Calculate the current
through the load using the formula
I s  Vs / RL
(1.13)
Plot Vs (vertical) versus Is and determine ro from the slope. This ro could be used
to calculate Vs for any RL. Include in your lab report example calculations for RL
=10  and RL = 1 . For both the calculations and measurements enter your
data into a spreadsheet program and plot the data. How close are the data to
linear? Use the spreadsheet program to fit a line to the data. How good is the fit?
Include these results in your lab report.
C. Voltage Divider
Set up the circuit shown in Fig. 7 on the plug-in box. Connect the 12V output of the
DC power supply to the red and green terminals. Use resistance values shown below.
RED
A
R1
B
Figure 7
+
R2
VS
D
GREEN
R1 = 510 
R
R


C
R3
This is a nonstandard connection because the circuit common (black) is not included
initially.
2 - Measure the voltage across each resistor. Use both meters, noting differences in
your lab report. The meters read the voltage on the input lead relative to the
“common” lead. The common side of the meter may be labeled as “low” or “-”.
In this circuit the voltage of A relative to D should be positive and D relative to A
should be negative. Try several variations until you understand the polarity
conventions of the meters. Do the measurements made in this part of the
experiment confirm Kirchoff’s first rule? Repeat the measurements several
times, noting all voltages. Do the measurements always agree? Based on these
measurements, what is the reproducibility of the voltmeters?
D. Circuit Common
The black post, sockets, and the metal box are connected together so they can be
used as a “common” voltage reference. Refer to section 12 in GIL. The circuit in the
preceding section is “floating” i.e., not connected to the common. Use the analog meter to
measure the voltage between the box and points A, B, C, and D of the circuit. The
reading should be zero for all four cases. When the meter is first connected, there is
enough conduction to bring the box and the point in the circuit to the same potential.
However, when one point in the circuit is connected to the box with a good conductor,
the potential of each point is fixed relative to the box.
3 - Connect point C to a black socket with a wire, measure the voltage on points A,
B, and D relative to the common. Briefly describe your results in your lab
report. The common of the circuit is not connected to the building grounding
system, but that has no effect on the preceding measurements. The silver post on
the back of the power supply is connected to ground trough the third wire on the
AC plug. Measure the voltage between this ground and the circuit box. It should
be zero.
E. Combining Resistors
Consider the circuit shown in Figure 8. Using equivalent resistances, and Kirchoff’s
rules if needed, predict VAB, VAC, I1, and I2.
1K
A
Figure 8
I1
1K
2K
I2
10V
C
D
1K
1K
B
1K
4 - Set up the circuit in Fig. 8 on the plug-in chassis and connect it to the power
supply. Do not insert the meter probes into circuit sockets because the probe tips
damage the sockets. Measure VAB, VAC, I1, and I2. Compare these measurements
with your calculations; make a table comparing the two. Refer to section 2 in
GIL for reference on the measurement techniques.
F. Thevenin’s Theorem
5 - Set up the circuit shown in Fig. 9 and measure VAB with R = 2K , 9.1K , and
without R (open circuit). Comment on the results in light of Thevenin’s theorem.
Calculate the Thevenin equivalent voltage and resistance, and draw the
Thevenin equivalent circuit.
A
Figure 9
1K
10V
1K
R
2K
B
G. Current Source and Norton’s Theorem
A transistor is used to illustrate a current source. You do not have to understand
transistor operation to make the measurements, but remember the results because they
will be helpful when you study transistors later.
Set up the circuit shown in Fig. 10. Both voltage sources from the power supply are
used in the positive mode. The multimeter, configured for current measurements, is
connected in series between the power supply and the red post on the circuit box.
Additional reference information is in GIL sections 2.2, 3.2, and 3.3.
Figure 10
-
Red
Post
Digital
Meter
+
C
2.2M
B
..
2N3904
..
Top
View
E
+
V1
+
V2
-
-
Positive charge is flowing into terminal C of the transistor. Set V1 = 5 V. V2
controls the transistor current source. Adjust V2 until the current coming from the
transistor is approximately 1 ma. This current is denoted as Ic. This current would remain
constant for an ideal current source when V1 is varied.
6 - Record the transistor current for V1= 5, 15, and 25 V. Plot this data with I
vertical and V horizontal. The current change will be very small, so the I scale
should be expanded to show the observed current clearly. Draw a line through
the data, empirically determining the slope and intercept. What do these
correspond to and what is their significance? Draw a Norton’s equivalent circuit
for this current source. Draw the Thevenin equivalent circuit.